Buying a trailer in ETS2 can increase your earnings significantly.
But which one is the most profitable? Which one offers the best price-to-profit/km ratio? Which one is the best choice for beginners?
The answers to these questions can be found in this post, based on a comprehensive test of all the standard trailers available in the game.
Best Trailers to Make Money in ETS2
Price: €55,210
Earnings: up to ~€86.57/km
Typical cargo types: Heavy machinery and high cargo
This trailer may not offer the top earnings in our ranking, but it provides an excellent balance between earnings and price, making it a great choice for beginners.
Even if you haven't acquired the ADR skills yet but have the High Power Cargo Pack DLC, this trailer can still yield some of the highest profits right from the start of the game.
Price: €133,735
Earnings: up to ~€90.86/km
Typical cargo types: Frozen, chilled goods
The Refrigerated trailer may be the best choice for beginners who are just starting the game and didn't develop skills like ADR yet or don't have any DLC. Nonetheless, the highest earnings with it will only be achievable once you have ADR Class 6 (without this skill, it's ~€71.75/km).
Unfortunately, this trailer is relatively expensive. It costs more than twice as much as a Low Bed trailer. However, if you plan to use it extensively, it should be worth it anyway.
Price: €65,270
Earnings: up to ~€97.89/km
Typical cargo types: Flammable gas, transported in liquid state
If you have developed ADR skills, specifically ADR Class 2, the Gas Tank trailer will be the most profitable option among all single trailers.
While you can potentially earn even more with double trailers, handling them can be quite challenging, especially when maneuvering in reverse. They are best suited for long, straight routes.
If you want to stick with classic single trailers and still earn a substantial income, the Gas Tank trailer is likely your best bet.
Price: €152,325
Earnings: up to ~€135.08/km
Typical cargo types: Chilled goods
The Insulated Double trailer provides earnings that are nearly as good as the best trailer on our list.
Meanwhile, it is over €80,000 cheaper and over 1 ton lighter.
This is yet another trailer that requires ADR Class 6 for maximum earnings, but even without this skill, you can still expect to earn up to ~€109.06/km.
If you're not afraid of challenges, you don't mind driving with two trailers, and you are looking for something affordable, this trailer is the right choice.
Price: €236,110
Earnings: up to ~€136.35/km
Typical cargo types: Frozen, chilled goods
The most profitable trailer in ETS2 is Refrigerated Double. You may not be surprised by that, since it's also the most expensive trailer in the game.
However, this trailer is a good choice for experienced drivers who have ADR Class 6 and are comfortable driving with a double trailer. Despite its earning potential, it isn't the best choice for everyone.
All standard trailers sorted by profit
| Trailer | Cargo | Price | Profit / km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerated Double | Frozen, chilled goods | €236,110 | €136.35 |
| Insulated Double | Chilled goods | €152,325 | €135.08 |
| Curtainsider Double | General, dry goods | €66,225 | €105.08 |
| Dry Freighter, Moving Floor B-Double | General, dry goods | €140,670 | €105.08 |
| Gas Tank | Flammable gas, transported in liquid state | €65,270 | €97.89 |
| Refrigerated | Frozen, chilled goods | €133,735 | €90.86 |
| Insulated | Chilled goods | €88,310 | €90.30 |
| Fuel Tank | Flammable liquids | €66,270 | €89.34 |
| Livestock | Living animals | €75,570 | €88.42 |
| Low Loader | Heavy machinery and high cargo | €58,710 | €86.66 |
| Low Bed | Heavy machinery and high cargo | €55,210 | €86.57 |
| Wooden Floor Flatbed | Construction equipment and materials | €30,700 | €72.39 |
| Steel Floor Flatbed | Construction equipment and materials | €50,510 | €72.39 |
| Curtainsider | General, dry goods | €33,700 | €71.63 |
| Dry Freighter, Side Door | General, dry goods | €69,610 | €71.63 |
| Dry Freighter, Moving Floor | General, dry goods | €72,210 | €71.63 |
| Container Carrier | Containers and container tanks | €35,510 | €64.76 |
| Chemical Tank Paint | Corrosive, toxic or otherwise dangerous liquids | €51,100 | €64.68 |
| Food Tank Paint | Liquid food goods | €51,100 | €58.94 |
| Woodern Floor Logger | Logs, beams or tubes | €47,310 | €50.62 |
| Steel Dumper | Bulk cargo and materials | €52,670 | €32.65 |
| Silo | Bulk cargo, materials and food | €73,895 | €31.35 |
Methodology: In the test, I examined all the Standard Trailers available in Euro Truck Simulator 2. For each of them, I checked the 3 most profitable jobs based on price per distance. From these values, I calculated the arithmetic average, which you can see in the table as Profit/km. The test was conducted on a profile with all available skills in the game maxed out.
Is buying a trailer worth it in ETS2?
If you don't find it boring to always haul the same trailer or a few of the same trailers, it's definitely worth considering buying your own trailer.
Having your own trailer can allow you to increase your earnings by up to 50% compared to standard jobs from the Freight Market, and it's almost cost-free. Unlike trucks, trailers don't need fuel, and you usually have to make a significant effort to damage them.
For example, if you have the High Power Cargo Pack DLC and purchase an affordable Low Bed trailer (€55,210), you can expect earnings of up to approximately ~€86.57/km. If you chose to stick to jobs from the Freight Market instead, you could expect earnings of up to approximately ~€73.16/km.
So that's a €13.41 difference per kilometer. This means that purchasing such a trailer will pay off after just 4118 kilometers (2-3 average deliveries), and then you will start earning on it.
It's even better return on investment than buying your own truck!
If you ask me, it's definitely worth it, at least if you choose the right trailer (again, you can use trailer ranking for that).